Why the US poultry industry will be stronger after 2013's economic storm

There’s room for both pessimism and optimism about the US poultry industry’s economic future headed into 2013. It all depends on a poultry company’s cost structure, balance sheet and planning horizon.

Are those poultry company CEOs just putting on a brave face for investors as they head into an economically stormy 2013? They are the ones who talk about being able to pass higher feed costs on to consumers in higher poultry prices. They continue to budget capital expenditures and R&D…